Run out of petrol!

Any trip in the car has meant scanning the horizon for breaching Humpback Whales, apparently there are 4x the usual no. out here at the moment.

Our car is stuck on the Coast Road and it and the Island have run out of petrol!!!!!!!!!

Snorkelling for a change

The weather allowed underwater exploration at a different location, The Muri Beach Lagoon.

More snorkelling

Too rough to dive though. Enjoyed a long run under the coconut trees. Followed the sound of the drums to The Rarotongan in the evening and caught a glimpse of local cultural spectacular but alas couldn't stay cos got chucked out by the bouncers so ended the evening with an icecream!

Fishy feast

Hung out at the Raro. resort feeding fish from their promenade. Coffee and snorkelling with the sea life followed by fresh local fish for dinner.

Hired a car from town today but the petrol gauge doesn't work!

Avoiding falling coconuts...

It's blowing a hooley here ( Is that an English phrase?!) Yep, we are trying to shed our London accents right now too.
Some flights are cancelled, I've checked out the forecast, how do we feel about not getting home???!!! I could research whales and the kids could grow up in grass skirts we could have a pet hermit crab????????!
We want to come back.........yearning for routine and I can't wait to have 30 mins. on my own and run up the Maitai.
We are enjoying this time of reflection with few decisions to make other than which bit of beach to walk on...

It was fun experiencing the daily jet blast in the afternoon, an Island event, where one waits for the 777 comes into land and you wait and watch and listen.

Lets get some photos on here to show you the flowers............

30 hours in motion.........

I'm so glad we have stopped in Raratonga we are not in a fit state to see anyone!!!!!
We dropped onto the tropical Island in shock at 6am. We were greeted by garlands of sweet smelling flowers and smiley faces........the taxi driver thought we had emigrated!
We were transported to a coconut hut near The Lagoon. Its beautiful, warm and wet. We took in the exotic scene through our blurry eyes and jumped into the lagoon to see fish and coral.
We spent a while rescuing sea cucumbers and chasing ghost crabs.
I vaguely remember tropical curries, hermit crab races and avoiding a karaoke!

A Whole Day Packing....

Can you believe it took us all day to pack and we had 2 experienced helpers (my cousins used to to and fro from Africa with 3 kids). We have even got things stuffed into shoes. Things like packets of Hula Hoops and White chocolate Mice ( yum English food). But I'm worried the supply is already being consumed here in Rarotonga!
We went on a 2 hour supermarket excursion in the afternoon. Do you know how hard it is to know you are not going to see or sample this stuff again for maybe another 20 years.. although Holly is already booking in her O.E. ( 10 years sounds better!)
The day ended in a thatch cottage with a glass of N.Z Sav.